In sending
forth1 this book on 'South London,' the successor to my two preceding books on 'London' and 'Westminster,' I have to explain in this case, as before, that it is not a history, or a chronicle, or a
consecutive2 account of the
Borough3 and her suburbs that I offer, but, as in the other two books, chapters taken here and there from the mass of material which lies ready to hand, and especially chapters which
illustrate4 the most important part of History, namely, the condition, the manners, the customs of the people
dwelling5 in this place, now, like Westminster, a part of London: yet, until two or three hundred years ago, an ancient
marsh6 kept from the
overflowing7 tide by an Embankment, joined to the Dover road by a Causeway, settled and inhabited by two or three Houses of Religious: by half a dozen Palaces of
Bishops8, Abbots, and great Lords: by a colony of fishermen living on the Embankment from time immemorial, since the Embankment itself was built: and by a street of Inns and shops.
I hope that 'South London' will be received with favour equal to that
bestowed9 upon its
predecessors10. The chief difficulty in writing it has been that of selection from the great treasures which have accumulated about this strange spot. The contents of this volume do not form a tenth part of what might be written on the same plan, and still without including the History Proper of the Borough. I am like the showman in the 'Cries of London'—I pull the
strings11, and the children peep. Lo! Allectus goes forth to fight and die on Clapham Common: William's men burn the fishermen's{vi} cottages: little King Richard, that lovely boy, rides out, all in white and gold, from his Palace at Kennington—saw one ever so
gallant12 a lad? The
Bastard13 of Falconbridge bombards the city: Sir John Fastolfe's man is pressed into
Jack14 Cade's army: the Minters make their last
Sanctuary15 opposite St. George's: the
Debtors16 languish17 in the King's Bench. There are many pictures in the box—but how many more there are for which no room could be found!
I must acknowledge my obligations, first, to the Editor of the
Pall18 Mall Magazine, where half of these chapters first had the honour of appearing, for the wealth of illustration of which he thought them
worthy19: and next to the artist, Mr. Percy Wadham, who has so faithfully and so cunningly carried out the task committed to him.
WALTER BESANT.
United University Club:
September 1898.
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收听单词发音
1
forth
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adv.向前;向外,往外 |
参考例句: |
- The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
- He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。
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2
consecutive
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adj.连续的,联贯的,始终一贯的 |
参考例句: |
- It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
- The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。
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3
borough
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n.享有自治权的市镇;(英)自治市镇 |
参考例句: |
- He was slated for borough president.他被提名做自治区主席。
- That's what happened to Harry Barritt of London's Bromley borough.住在伦敦的布罗姆利自治市的哈里.巴里特就经历了此事。
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4
illustrate
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v.举例说明,阐明;图解,加插图 |
参考例句: |
- The company's bank statements illustrate its success.这家公司的银行报表说明了它的成功。
- This diagram will illustrate what I mean.这个图表可说明我的意思。
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5
dwelling
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n.住宅,住所,寓所 |
参考例句: |
- Those two men are dwelling with us.那两个人跟我们住在一起。
- He occupies a three-story dwelling place on the Park Street.他在派克街上有一幢3层楼的寓所。
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6
marsh
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n.沼泽,湿地 |
参考例句: |
- There are a lot of frogs in the marsh.沼泽里有许多青蛙。
- I made my way slowly out of the marsh.我缓慢地走出这片沼泽地。
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7
overflowing
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n. 溢出物,溢流
adj. 充沛的,充满的
动词overflow的现在分词形式 |
参考例句: |
- The stands were overflowing with farm and sideline products. 集市上农副产品非常丰富。
- The milk is overflowing. 牛奶溢出来了。
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8
bishops
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(基督教某些教派管辖大教区的)主教( bishop的名词复数 ); (国际象棋的)象 |
参考例句: |
- Each player has two bishops at the start of the game. 棋赛开始时,每名棋手有两只象。
- "Only sheriffs and bishops and rich people and kings, and such like. “他劫富济贫,抢的都是郡长、主教、国王之类的富人。
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9
bestowed
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赠给,授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) |
参考例句: |
- It was a title bestowed upon him by the king. 那是国王赐给他的头衔。
- He considered himself unworthy of the honour they had bestowed on him. 他认为自己不配得到大家赋予他的荣誉。
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10
predecessors
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n.前任( predecessor的名词复数 );前辈;(被取代的)原有事物;前身 |
参考例句: |
- The new government set about dismantling their predecessors' legislation. 新政府正着手废除其前任所制定的法律。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Will new plan be any more acceptable than its predecessors? 新计划比原先的计划更能令人满意吗? 来自《简明英汉词典》
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11
strings
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n.弦 |
参考例句: |
- He sat on the bed,idly plucking the strings of his guitar.他坐在床上,随意地拨着吉他的弦。
- She swept her fingers over the strings of the harp.她用手指划过竖琴的琴弦。
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12
gallant
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adj.英勇的,豪侠的;(向女人)献殷勤的 |
参考例句: |
- Huang Jiguang's gallant deed is known by all men. 黄继光的英勇事迹尽人皆知。
- These gallant soldiers will protect our country.这些勇敢的士兵会保卫我们的国家的。
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13
bastard
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n.坏蛋,混蛋;私生子 |
参考例句: |
- He was never concerned about being born a bastard.他从不介意自己是私生子。
- There was supposed to be no way to get at the bastard.据说没有办法买通那个混蛋。
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14
jack
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n.插座,千斤顶,男人;v.抬起,提醒,扛举;n.(Jake)杰克 |
参考例句: |
- I am looking for the headphone jack.我正在找寻头戴式耳机插孔。
- He lifted the car with a jack to change the flat tyre.他用千斤顶把车顶起来换下瘪轮胎。
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15
sanctuary
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n.圣所,圣堂,寺庙;禁猎区,保护区 |
参考例句: |
- There was a sanctuary of political refugees behind the hospital.医院后面有一个政治难民的避难所。
- Most countries refuse to give sanctuary to people who hijack aeroplanes.大多数国家拒绝对劫机者提供庇护。
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16
debtors
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n.债务人,借方( debtor的名词复数 ) |
参考例句: |
- Creditors could obtain a writ for the arrest of their debtors. 债权人可以获得逮捕债务人的令状。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Never in a debtors' prison? 从没有因债务坐过牢么? 来自英汉文学 - 双城记
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17
languish
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vi.变得衰弱无力,失去活力,(植物等)凋萎 |
参考例句: |
- Without the founder's drive and direction,the company gradually languished.没有了创始人的斗志与指引,公司逐渐走向没落。
- New products languish on the drawing board.新产品在计划阶段即告失败。
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18
pall
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v.覆盖,使平淡无味;n.柩衣,棺罩;棺材;帷幕 |
参考例句: |
- Already the allure of meals in restaurants had begun to pall.饭店里的饭菜已经不像以前那样诱人。
- I find his books begin to pall on me after a while.我发觉他的书读过一阵子就开始对我失去吸引力。
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19
worthy
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adj.(of)值得的,配得上的;有价值的 |
参考例句: |
- I did not esteem him to be worthy of trust.我认为他不值得信赖。
- There occurred nothing that was worthy to be mentioned.没有值得一提的事发生。
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